News

1Program Background

Startups have become crucial entities in driving economic growth and addressing societal challenges through innovative business approaches. They play a significant role not only in the global market but also in promoting innovation within local communities.

In Hyogo and Kobe, we have been actively working on creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to gather, providing funding support, business growth support, and personnel development. Especially since being selected as J-Global Startup Cities in Kansai along with Osaka and Kyoto in July 2020 by the Japanese government, Hyogo and Kobe have been making continuous efforts to foster a diverse startup ecosystem capable of global competition and to promote the development and support of startups.

In addition, the urgent response to the escalating severity of climate change has become a global imperative. Recognizing this, Hyogo, in its revised “Hyogo Prefecture Climate Change Mitigation Plan”* issued in March 2022, emphasizes the crucial need to foster innovation for the implementation of technologies that enable sustainable growth, while also striving to generate cutting-edge innovations that contribute to achieving a decarbonized society.

Based on the aforementioned context, this program organized by Hyogo and Kobe　aims to strengthen the startup ecosystem by supporting startups and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are dedicated to pursuing the globally shared Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The program further focuses on facilitating the development, growth, and international expansion of system and product solutions that foster global social transformation.

Its primary objective is to foster innovation and promote the creation of startups that contribute to the advancement of cutting-edge products and solutions while strengthening the overall startup ecosystem.

* https://www.kankyo.pref.hyogo.lg.jp/jp/warming/leg_255/leg_394

2Targeted Startups

We are looking for startups or SMEs that are developing and commercializing products or services** related to the following themes.

• Themes
  Products or services that contribute to the SDGs***

** The target is products that are already commercially available or have completed prototype development and will be commercially available in the near future.

*** We plan to prioritize the selection of startups and SMEs that are actively working on developing products or services in Climate tech, such as decarbonization and carbon neutrality.

4Program Outline

4Launguage

The activities of this program, such as meetings and mentoring, are conducted in Japanese.
However, since this program aims to support overseas development, activities and exchanges will be conducted in English.

5Number of companies to be selected

About 20 companies.
However, the financial support for the demonstration and research projects in 3(2) is available for about 10 out of 20 companies.

6Program Fee

Free of Charge.
NOTE: Travel, accommodation, and other expenses necessary for participation in the program, including a trip to the Kobe venue, are to be borne by the participants.

7Venue

8Program Schedule

9How to apply & Application Period

Applications opened on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. The deadline to apply is 18:00 (JST), Friday, July 7, 2023.
If you want to apply, please submit your application online as soon as possible from the following website.
* Regarding required information to apply, please refer to the Appendix-1.

10Screening Method and Selection Criteria

Applicants will be screened through document screening and interviews on a rolling basis. The results of the evaluation will be communicated via email.

• First round: Document Screening
• Second round: Online Interview
• Third round: Online Interview
  * However the third round is only applicants seeking financial support for overseas demonstration and research projects.

Applicants who wish to receive financial support for overseas demonstration/research projects are required to submit a separate detailed project plan. Please refer to the Appendix-2. We will schedule an interview after screening it.

• That has already started to develop and market a concrete business (R&D) (not at the level of an idea)
• That has a clear target issue, customer, business goal or vision, and an activity policy that matches the application’s theme based on the SDGs.
• Whose business activities are expected to impact the regional economy of Hyogo/Kobe positively and can serve as a catalyst for change in the market as a whole.
• The founder or managing director must be able to participate in the program on their initiative.
• Availability for face-to-face participation in the program is required.
• Willingness to actively participate in and contribute to the startup community in Hyogo and Kobe, including the SDGsCHALLENGE

*note: Priority will be given to companies that have a base** in Hyogo or have plans to expand into Hyogo during the selection process.
**A “base” refers to a physical presence such as a branch office, liaison office, or utilization of coworking facilities, indicating ongoing business activities. Registration is not mandatory

11Notification of Acceptance

The results of the selection will be notified via email.
Please note that in the case of non-selection, we will not disclose the reasons for the decision.
All selected teams will be announced on our web site: https://sdgs-challenge.jp/

12Requests for cooperation in surveys and follow-up

We will ask all applicants to cooperate in surveys and hearings to improve our SDGs CHALLENGE program.

13Other Notes

• We will implement this program at KiP and KIITO. When you join the program and use our facilities, please comply with the facilities’ terms and conditions of use. The proposer has intellectual property rights to the business plan and other information.
• However, the proposer is responsible for taking measures to legally protect information such as patents, utility models, trade secrets, and know-how and is requested to submit proposals to the extent that it is acceptable to make them public.
• The contents of the submitted documents, including personal information, will be shared with Hyogo, Kobe, and the contracted operators, Community Link the NPO and Yamashita Project, Inc. The information will also be shared and used to the extent necessary for this program’s cooperating and sponsoring organizations.
• The submitted personal information will not be used for any other purpose or provided to any third party, except for related parties unless otherwise stipulated by law or agreed to by the applicant.
• Suppose we find any misrepresentation or failure to meet the requirements after the qualified or launched program. In that case, the applicant will be disqualified or asked to withdraw from the program during the program.

14Contact

If you have any questions, please contact to the contracted operators, Community Link the NPO via email : sdgs-challenge@communitylink.jp

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

This program is operated by CommunityLink commissioned by Hyogo Prefecture and Kobe City.

Such programs and services are provided for educational and informational purposes only and under no circumstances should any content provided as part of any such program, services or events be construed as investment, legal, tax or accounting advice by us or any of its affiliates.

This post is intended solely to provide information regarding the stated program. All content provided in this post is provided for general informational or educational purposes only.

We make no representations as to the accuracy or information contained in this post and while we have taken reasonable steps to ensure that the information contained in this post is accurate and up-to-date, no liability can be accepted for any error or omissions.